Updated on
Summary
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said that civil nuclear power generation is an essential part of the national energy security strategy for Pakistan to help meet our energy needs for social and economic development. He said Pakistan has already worked with India on several nuclear confidence building measures, adding, this effort must continue. More than ever before, our two nations need to hold a sustained dialogue to address all issues. Gilani said this in his intervention at the dinner session of Nuclear Security Summit hosted by President Barack Obama in Washington. The PM said Pakistan qualifies for participation in civil nuclear cooperation at the international level. We urge all relevant forums to give Pakistan access to nuclear technology for peaceful uses, in a non-discriminatory manner.Terming the threat of terrorist acts involving dirty bombs more real and having global dimensions, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani called for additional measures by the world to combat this threat. Prime Minister Gilani, who was one of the eight leaders invited by President Obama to speak at the dinner, assured that the democratic government in Pakistan is fully committed to ensuring nuclear security.The PM said Pakistan, as a nuclear weapon state, attaches highest importance to the security of nuclear materials and facilities and for this purpose it has put in place multi-layered mechanisms and processes. Gilani said nuclear security within a state is a national responsibility, adding, international cooperation is important to promote a responsive and resilient nuclear security culture. Success would ultimately depend on national actions, he added. The Prime Minister said Pakistan has a robust nuclear security regime with four prongs of strategy. Our nuclear security system is managed and supported by a three-tier command and control system, a regulatory regime covering nuclear security, and comprehensive export controls. He said the present democratic government passed the National Command Authority Ordinance as an Act of Parliament and has also constituted a Parliamentary Committee on National Security that closely watches policies and their implementation. The Prime Minister said Pakistans Nuclear Security Action Plan (NSAP) is being implemented in cooperation with the IAEA. We are constantly refining and updating our systems, he added. Gilani said Pakistan is cooperating with the international legal regimes, arrangements, and initiatives and has been reporting regularly to the UN Security Council Resolution 1540 Committee. We are implementing provisions of the relevant Conventions and IAEA Code of Conduct, he added.
